Donor

By the time the sun rises in Hesperia, Calif., Jaden Shackelford is 2,500 jumps and 500 shots in. After finishing high school in February, the sharp-shooting lefty begins his day at 4 a.m. with stretches and breakfast before embarking on an intensive seven-hour workout.

Shackelford isn’t wasting a minute as he prepares to join Alabama later this month. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is rated as the No. 130 player overall in the nation and is thought to be a possible instant-impact freshman for the Crimson Tide next season.

After originally committing to former head coach Avery Johnson last fall, Shackelford decided to stick with his decision after Alabama brought in Nate Oats in March.

“I’ve talked to Coach Oats numerous times. I’ve been to campus, and he’s flown out to California to visit me,” Shackelford said. “He’s really reassured me about how I can help this team and how I can have an immediate impact.

“Coach (Antoine) Pettway recruited me, and he did an awesome job at that. I feel really confident in the situation. All the coaches are really cool. I feel like it’s a blessing in disguise really.”

It’s easy to see what Alabama and Oats like in the four-star combo guard. Last season, Shackelford led Hesperia High School to the semifinals of the Division 3A state championship, averaging 25.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 steals. He led the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League with 57 3-pointers over 20 games and had seven games with four or more 3s.

“It’s all about shooting with Jaden,” Rivals.com national basketball analyst Corey Evans said. “He’s probably one of the top 10 shooters in the 2019 class. He’s tough, but primarily it’s going to be who’s going to make shots, who’s going to extend the defense at the perimeter and beyond, and he does that.”

While it’s Shackelford’s scoring ability that vaulted his status as one of the nation’s top prospects, the freshman guard said there’s more to his game than a smooth stroke from beyond the arc.

“I’ve added a whole bunch more recently,” Shackelford said. “I take pride in playing defense every play. I like to guard the best player if Coach wants me to. I pass the ball well, and I’m super unselfish, honestly.

“I mean, I can score. I’ve been in the gym working on getting to the basket and playing around the rim. It’s more than just shooting. Yeah, that’s my strong suit, but I have way more to my game than that.”

During Shackelford’s visit to Alabama, Crimson Tide coaches broke down his film and compared him side by side with NBA All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell, who averaged 21.1 points and 7 assists per game for the Brooklyn Nets last season.

Like Russell, who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015 following an All-American freshman season at Ohio State, Shackelford has aspirations of being a one-and-done player in college. Collin Sexton became the first Alabama player to leave after just one season since the league added the one-and-done rule in 2006 when he was selected No. 8 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers last year.

While Shackelford acknowledges there will be an inevitable adjustment period at the next level, he’s already bulked up to 192 pounds this spring in order to help withstand the physical play of the SEC.

“I feel pretty confident, honestly. I’ve been in the gym a lot trying to get stronger, working on getting to the rim and finishing through contact,” Shackelford said. “I don’t see it being much of a problem, but I know you don’t really know it until you get in that position in the SEC and find out. I’m pretty confident.”

Shackelford said he’s been watching tape of certain sets and plays Alabama will use in Oats’ system and incorporating them into his workouts. The freshman guard plans of ramping up his regimen over the next few weeks in a final push to prepare himself for the next level. He plans to walk at his school’s graduation on May 29 before making the cross-country trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to join the team.

“It’s super exciting,” Shackelford said. “I think this team can go super far and make it a long way in the NCAA Tournament. I feel like we’re a tournament team this year.”

Donor

That I don't making the tournament every year is an realistic expectation is having too low expectations? I mean I'll take a bet with anybody who wants to take it that in the next decade Alabama and any non-UK SEC team won't go 10/10 in tournaments. Shit I'd bet that no non-UK team goes 8/10.

Donor

Well then what is too low about expecting the tournament 2 of every 3 years or so? I guess I also said it would be extremely difficult to attract a top tier coach that was highly coveted under current circumstances, and I was right, so idk. I think Oats has potential but I don't think he was on anyone's radar. I like his attitude and philosophies but it's definitely a gamble.

For the record I believe Gump has actually said that anything other than making it every single year is unacceptable. But Gump is also a demand more guy... but he's I believe he's on the record with that expectation.